TeamPats

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal.../reiss_pieces/

I can't find a single player I disagree about. Looking at it now at 53, rather then 75... I can't believe how deep we are.

Quarterback (2)
Tom Brady, Matt Cassel
COMMENT: Rookie Corey Bramlet goes to the practice squad, as the Patriots carry just two QBs for the first time in Bill Belichick’s tenure (2000-present).

Running back (4)
Corey Dillon, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Heath Evans
COMMENT: Impressive rookie Patrick Cobbs is edged out by Evans, who was working with a few top special teams units in practice this week. Assuming he’s not courted elsewhere, Cobbs lands on the practice squad, while Patrick Pass starts the year on the physically unable to perform list.

Wide receiver (5)
Deion Branch, Reche Caldwell, Troy Brown, Chad Jackson, Bam Childress
COMMENT: John Stone and Kelvin Kight could also be in the mix for the spot given to Childress, as Childress has practice squad eligibility. Willie Andrews, who should make the team as a returner, could also contribute here.

Tight end (4)
Daniel Graham, Benjamin Watson, David Thomas, Garrett Mills
COMMENT: One of the deepest positions on the team, with Mills also responsible for fullback-like duties.

Offensive line (8)
Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Ryan O’Callaghan, Nick Kaczur, Russ Hochstein, Billy Yates
COMMENT: Tackles Wesley Britt and Randy Hand, and guard Dan Stevenson, likely wind up on the practice squad. This is a deep, smart, talented group. Competition has been intense for what looks like an eighth spot, and Yates gets the nod for his strong work vs. Arizona in Week 2.

Defensive line (7)
Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Johnathan Sullivan, Mike Wright, Marquise Hill
COMMENT: Like the offensive line, another deep, smart, talented group. Dan Klecko and Le Kevin Smith are the tough cuts, with Smith likely returning to the practice squad. Hill, a 2004 second-round pick, gets a generous spot because 6-foot, 300-pound athletic players are hard to develop and he’s still raw.

Inside linebacker (7)
Mike Vrabel, Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Barry Gardner, Larry Izzo, Don Davis, Eric Alexander
COMMENT: Monty Beisel is the tough cut. Izzo, Davis and Alexander are core special teams contributors, with Davis also seeing time in sub packages.

Outside linebacker (3)
Rosevelt Colvin, Tully Banta-Cain, Pierre Woods
COMMENT: Depth is a concern here, although Mike Vrabel can always return to the outside. Woods, who played at Michigan, looks like this year’s Randall Gay/Mike Wright story -- a rookie free agent who emerges to make the roster. Chad Brown isn’t healthy enough to make the roster.

Cornerback (4)
Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Randall Gay, Chad Scott
COMMENT: Eric Warfield could still make the club, with his fate possibly tied to Tebucky Jones’ hamstring injury. But Chad Scott brings more value on special teams at this time, as he was on the first-unit kickoff coverage Saturday against the Redskins. Eugene Wilson adds depth here if needed.

Safety (6)
Eugene Wilson, Rodney Harrison, Artrell Hawkins, James Sanders, Willie Andrews, Tebucky Jones
COMMENT: Jones’ hamstring injury creates a little uncertainty here, and depending on its severity could open the door for someone else like Eric Warfield, Antwain Spann, Guss Scott (currently injured), Patrick Cobbs or a free-agent pickup who could carve out a niche on special teams.

Specialists (3)
Stephen Gotskowski (kicker), Josh Miller (punter), Lonie Paxton (snapper)

Final breakdown
Offense -- 23 players
Defense -- 27 players
Specialists -- 3 players

PROJECTED PRACTICE SQUAD: OT Wesley Britt, OT Randy Hand, OG/C Dan Stevenson, RB Patrick Cobbs, DL Le Kevin Smith, OLB Jeremy Mincey, ILB Corey Mays, DL Santonio Thomas

__________________
In front of his team after a 28-10 loss to the Packers in 2002, Belichick said: "We have a lot of smart guys in this room, but on the football field we play like a bunch of f------- morons. If you are one of the players flinching at the harshness of these words, you might as well begin packing. There is no way you are going to last as a New England Patriot."

PatsRI

A good job by Reiss and I think it'll be a pretty accurate one too.

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DarrylS

Good job, still think that it will be Cobbs over Evans and there will be another OLB on this squad, kinda thin in that area.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

14thDragon

The OLB situation would have me sweating bullets though. Only 3 guys, scary.

I guess having Mincey on the PS and Brown on the Shadow Roster along with Vrable, Seau, and Alexander having potential position flexbilty is what allows only 3.

Also with Vrable moving back outside in 4-3 alignments means we are not understrengthed in our 4-3 packages.

Seymour93

The PS is rarely that deep. I imagine some of those players sould sign with other teams and get on the active roster.

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The Gr8est

I'm still thinking Cobbs over Evans as well. If Evans is cut, does anyone pick him up? Cobbs almost certainly would be claimed. Don't forget that faulk is getting older and had an injury that was feared to be possibly career-threatening last year. Cobbs could be the guy to replace Faulk soon.

ironwasp

It's not the worst position to be in: Cobbs or Evans for fourth string running back, and I'll not be overly upset whoever gets the nod. But Cobbs looks like a keeper, so he'd make my list.

Weishuhn

He said QB Bramlett would be on the PS, then didn't list him in his predicted PS. I think Bramlett, or whatever QB they put on the PS, takes the spot of Mays.

shmessy

My only beef with Reiss' 53 is Childress over Cobbs (I know, I know different positions, but hear me out).

If Branch comes back, we don't need 5 WR's. 4 plus Andrews as a swing DB/5thWR is fine. Childress won't get poached from our PS.

Cobbs would DEFINITELY get poached from our PS. Cobbs is insurance if Faulk goes down with an injury. He would be a great understudy to Faulk.

For the 1st 6 weeks of the season, Cobbs and Evans can engage in a Texas Death match to see who survives when and if Pass gets off the PUP list.

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"They (Patriots) may be the greatest team ever" - Chris Mortenson, January 18, 2005 on espn.com

pats1

I noticed the same.